Hurricane Sandy: How To Prepare, Respond

In preparation for Hurricane Sandy, Governor McDonnell has declared a state of emergency in Virginia. Please listen to local Television and Radio stations for updates as Sandy approaches and take the necessary steps to get prepared for the storm. Extended power outages, heavy rain, snow, and flooding have the potential to affect Virginia's 5th District.

Evacuation information and routes and Shelters and recovery centers will appear as they become operational

State agencies are preparing for Sandy in the following ways:

The Commonwealth has activated the Virginia Emergency Response Team.

The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state's response with increased staffing available 24 hours a day.

Virginia State Police personnel have been placed on stand-by and will be pre-positioned to the areas where they will be needed based on the final projected path of the hurricane. The Virginia State Police Swift Water Rescue Team is standing by in strategic locations.

Chainsaw crews from the Virginia Department of Forestry are standing by with emergency response personnel and to help with debris removal.

Virginia Department of Transportation crews are ready to clear roads and ensure roads are safe for travel.

The Virginia National Guard has been authorized to bring personnel on state active duty and begin prepositioning resources.

The Virginia Department of Health is coordinating with hospitals and long-term care facilities to ensure that they are prepared for storm impacts.

Emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility. For information about preparing for Hurricane Sandy and for regular updates, visit http://www.vaemergency.gov/. For general information about the storm, dial 211.